Twin's Reckoning
In the formerly disputed territory that lies to the west of Itria and to the east of the Mutalim Desert is the sight of the last battle of the Philosopher's War. Once called Skiras Valley, the region is now known as Twin's Reckoning, which is also the name of the battle that took place. Here, the nation of Itria split and formed a great rupture from the earth. Itria claims this unheard feat of geomancy was thanks to the combined powers of the Philosopher's Stone and the blessing of the gods Ninurta and Damqis. Most mages in geomancy, from Itria or other regions of Lemuria, are flabbergasted to how this event occurred even with the existence of the Stone. The Stone had used most of its powers by the end of the Philosopher's War, and this devastation drained the Stone of all its energy and made the sparsely populated grassland region into a near uninhabitable wasteland.
As part of the treaty to end the Philosopher's War, the region is now under the domain of Itria. However, it is largely ignored by the Kingdom in almost all aspects besides ore trade, and Adnati interacts with the people of this now unforgiving land more frequently.
Geography
Once a fertile grassland home to small, self-sustaining farming communities of humans and echtra, Twin's Reckoning is now a wasteland of rock and sand. During the day, the sky above bleeds red to blue, as if in an eternal sunset. During the night, the sky turns completely red, and the moons nor any stars can be seen. It is common for sandstorms to ravage the region for days on end, causing those that still try to live in the region to remain inside their homes. These dwellings are commonly carved from stone that was uprooted from the surge of energy provided by the Philosopher's Stone. Many that live here now provide guide services for those that are trying to pass through the region, or scavenge the wastes searching for precious gems and metals that can be traded in Adnati or Itria. Those that travel by airship will avoid the region entirely, either going north over the ocean or south towards the Kuychkilla mountain range.
Food is hard to come by. Plants are grown indoors thanks to the invention of magical devices that provide artificial sunlight. Sultana Saheera of Adnati regularly attempts to send spare crops to the area, though these are often the scraps that would not be sellable in market and are often contaminated with maggots or other insects. One of her illegitimate children, Taslim the Whisperer, has introduced Sultansnakes to the region as a source of meat, as they grow well in desert climates. They have also become the mount of choice for they can easily slide through the sand and over unstable rocks. Water can be found from various wells within the earth, which need to be found with the assistance of a geomancer or diviner. Many have picked up a few tricks from these mages so they can find water on their own.
Though now even harsher than the Mutalim desert, the actions of Itria have upended previously hidden ores and gemstones that no one knew existed underneath the fertile valley. These ores and gemstones can vary widely in quality, but Itria is interested in such items and as having dominion over the region, often calling priority for any metals, ores, or gemstones that would enter the market for trade. This is speculated to be due in part due the depletion of natural resources from the vast network of mines underneath Itria's Capitale, Mulki's Trash Heap. To prevent unsponsored trade to Adnati in recent years, King Primero has sent a network of Trade Inspectors to live in the region and manage with extreme control where all goods go. However, there is a thriving black market, and a significant portion of the rarer gemstones and ores end up in Adnati, or in some cases, Dolorent hands.
History
Once called Skiras Valley, this sparsely populated grassland was both claimed by Adnati and Itria for generations, though neither nation had significant forces in the area. It was the stage of the final battleground during the brief, bloody Philosopher's War, a war Sultana Saheera declared under religious grounds. Saheera had been advised that the Philosopher's Stone was to be used against Adnati, and she attempted to prevent this terrible fate by being aggressive against Itria. However, this bold decision seemed to backfire spectacularly, for two-thirds of the Adnati army suffered casualties when marching through the Skiras Valley towards Capitale. Naturally, most of the population that lived in the area died as well.
Unable to recover from such a devastating loss, Sultana Saheera agreed to a near unconditional surrender. The Philosopher's War only lasted three weeks but the consequences of it can still be felt a generation later. Itria now has a tight grip on many aspects of Adnati's economy thanks to the peace treaty that was signed in what is now Twin's Reckoning largest settlement, Weeping. Almost every family in Adnati lost someone to the Twin's Reckoning, as Saheera mandated that each family must provide two able-bodied fighters for the war when possible. This event is defining to those that are old enough to remember it in Adnati, and nearly all of the city-state's citizens hold a deep bitterness towards Itria to this day, when before most were indifferent to the country at best.
Unable to recover from such a devastating loss, Sultana Saheera agreed to a near unconditional surrender. The Philosopher's War only lasted three weeks but the consequences of it can still be felt a generation later. Itria now has a tight grip on many aspects of Adnati's economy thanks to the peace treaty that was signed in what is now Twin's Reckoning largest settlement, Weeping. Almost every family in Adnati lost someone to the Twin's Reckoning, as Saheera mandated that each family must provide two able-bodied fighters for the war when possible. This event is defining to those that are old enough to remember it in Adnati, and nearly all of the city-state's citizens hold a deep bitterness towards Itria to this day, when before most were indifferent to the country at best.
Type
Badlands